Fire Prevention Month is taken seriously at Alburtis Elementary School where two fire prevention assemblies were held Oct. 10.

Alburtis Volunteer Fire Chief Donald Smith Jr., Capt. Robert George and firefighters Chris Lubenetski and Matt Krupa attended the assemblies to teach students about fire prevention and demonstrate many lifesaving techniques in a fun and entertaining way.

Kendra Bergman, who teaches third grade, volunteered to dress as a firefighter while Lubenetski explained what each piece of clothing was and how it protects firefighters in a fire. After Bergman removed all of the gear someone asked what it felt like to dress as a firefighter and carry a 40-pound air tank, protective head cover and mask.

"It felt bulky and big like a snowsuit. It's hot and hard to walk around in and the air pack is heavy," Bergman said.

An Alburtis student also put on firefighter gear and got lots of laughs because the clothes were too big for her. The sleeves of the jacket touched the floor and the hat practically covered her face.

The same student later was asked to pretend to be asleep in a bed on stage and was told what to do if a fire alarm would sound.

When the alarm sounded the student promptly rolled to the floor and crawled away on her hands and knees. Her action was the right thing to do, Smith said, but there was one more thing he would have liked her to do wake everyone in the house by yelling there was a fire and everyone should get up and get out.

Smith also said firefighters crawl into smoke-filled burning houses on their hands and knees to find the source of a fire.

The children then received homework from Smith.

"Talk to your parents when you get home. Have them make sure the smoke detectors work and make a plan so everyone knows how to get out of your house if there is a fire. Establish a (family) meeting place so everyone can be together," Smith said.

The children then went outside to see two firetrucks.